Mikashevichy: community work day instead of banned 1 May demonstration
The head of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union
Mikalai Zimin and the head of the independent trade union at
"Granite" factory Aleh Stakhayevich applied to the Mikashevichy authorities
for the authorization of 1 May demonstration in the city. Predictably enough,
the application was rejected.
One of the aims of the action was to express solidarity with the workers of
"Granite" who have established the free trade union organization and
were struggling for legalizing its activity. The official reason for the action
ban was that some sports contest would take place at the stadium on 1 May.
Being afraid of the action, the authorities also organized a day of unpaid work
on 1 May. There are posts of road police at the entrances to the city. The
streets are guarded by riot police.
